Fume and mist respirator with ring means for removably mounting the filters



y 8, 1956 R. MALCOM, JR., ETAL 2,744,523.

FUME AND MIST RESPIRATOR WITH RING MEANS FOR REMOVABLY MOUNTING THEFILTERS Filed May 19, 1954 IN VEN TOR.5 fierzi/l akaw J? [42325 Z. zz/zple W HQ- W United States Patent FUME AND MIST RESPIRATOR WITH RINGMEANS FOR REMOVABLY MOUNTING THE FILTERS Robert Malcom, Jr., and WillisZ. Whipple, Chicago, Ill., assignors to Chicago Eye Shield Company,Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois I Application May 19, 1954,Serial No. 430,854

Claims. (Cl. 128-146) This invention relates to respirators and is animprovement over that disclosed in copending application Serial No.303,293, filed August 8, 1952, by Willis Z. Whipple.

Said copending application discloses a fume respirator having a facepiece including an exhale valve and a supporting member having an inhalevalve, wherein the supportlng member is substantially circular andperipherally provided with a screw threaded flange and has an annularresilient gasket therein, wherein a unique substantially cylindricalfume absorbing cartridge is received in the supporting member againstthe resilient gasket, wherein the cylindrical fume absorbing cartridgehas substantially circular perforated end walls, a substantiallycylindrical side wall provided with an annular shoulder intermediate itsends and fume absorbing material therein, and wherein a screw threadedring having an inwardly extending flange engages the annular shoulder onthe cartridge for removably securing and sealing the cartridge in placein the supporting member against the resilient gasket. Such a respiratorwith its removable and replaceable fume absorbing cartridge orcartridges gives'ex- I at 10 in Fig. 1.

cellent results in absorbing fumes from air breathed into therespirator.

However, when such a respirator is used in atmospheres havingconsiderable mist, such as, for example, paint pigments where paintspraying is being done, the mist or paint pigments soon clog the fumeabsorbing material in the cartridge. This results in frequent andunnecessary replacement of the relatively expensive fume absorbingcartridges.

The principal object of this invention is to provide for such arespirator an auxiliary mist absorbing filter assembly which is simplyand removably mounted in the respirator in conjunction with the fumeabsorbing cartridge, which absorbs the mist or paint pigments from theinhaled air before it reaches the fume absorbing cartridge to preventclogging ofthe fume absorbing material in the cartridge, which isinexpensive and readily replaceable, and which avoids the aforementioneddifliculties.

Briefly, the mist absorbing filter assembly of this invention includes asubstantially circular mist absorbing filter, such as paper or the like,removably overlying the outer perforated end wall of the fume absorbingcartridge, and a ring member removably overlying a portion of the sidewall of the fume absorbing cartridge and having an inwardly extendingflange marginally engaging the mist absorbing filter to hold the same inplace on the outer end wall of the fume absorbing cartridge and anoutwardly extending flange adjacent the shoulder on the fume absorbingcartridge. When the screw threaded ring is screwed onto the screwthreaded flange of the supporting member of the respirator, the inwardlyextending flange of the screw threaded ring engages the outwardlyextending flange of the ring member for removably securing the mistabsorbing filter to the fume absorbing cartridge and for removablysecuring the fume absorbing cartridge in the supporting member insealing rel-a- 2,744,523 Patented May 8, 1956 t-ion with the sealinggasket. The fume absorbing filter, which is of itself inexpensive, maybe readily replaced merely by manipulating the screw threaded ring andthe ring member, and, yet, it is marginally securely held in place whilein use by the same means that holds the fume absorbing cartridge inplace in the respirator.

Further objects of this invention reside in the details of constructionof the mist absorbing assembly itself and in the combination thereofwith the fume absorbing cartridge and the respirator and in thecooperative relationships between the component parts thereof.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the art upon reference to the accompanyingspecification, claim-s and drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the respirator of this invention withthe combination fume and mist absorbing assemblies mounted therein;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the parts forming the fumeabsorbing cartridge;

Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the supporting member,the fume absorbing cartridge, the mist absorbing assembly and the screwthreaded ring.

The respirator of this invention is generally designated It includes aface piece 11 preferably formed of rubber or the like. The face piece 11covers the nose and mouth of the wearer and is held in place byadjustable straps 12. The face piece 1 1 is provided with an exhalevalve assembly 13 through which the breath is exhaled. A pair ofsupporting members 14- is secured to the face piece 11. Each supportingmember is substantially circular and is peripherally provided with ascrew threaded flange 15. Each supporting member 14 is secured andsealed to the face piece 11 by means of a sleeve 16 extending throughholes in the supporting member 14 and in an enlarged portion 17 of theface piece 11 and being flanged over against the supporting member 14and the face piece 11. An inhale valve 18 is associated with eachsupporting member 14 and is carried by a pin 19 which in turn is carriedby a crossbar 20 suitably secured to the sleeve 16. These inhale valves18 are preferably formed of rubber or the like and seat against theflanged end of the sleeve 16. These valves 18 are utilized for inhalingpunposes. Upon inhaling, air is drawn through the supporting members 14and inhale valves 18 and upon exhaling, air is discharged through theexhale valve assembly 13.

An annular resilient gasket 2.1 is located in each supporting member 14adjacent the flange 15 thereof for sealing purposes. The supportingmember 14 is adapted to rceive a fume absorbing cartridge which may beof the type disclosed in the aforementioned copending application. Thecartridge includes a casing member 22 preferably made of aluminum or thelike. The casing member 22 is made in the form of a cup shape memberhaving a substantially circularend wall 23. This end wall is providedwith a plurality of perforations 28' and it is also formed outwardly toprovide an annular seating surface 24. The cup shaped member also has asubstantially cylindrical side wall which is divided into two portionshaving different diameters. The larger portion 25 of the side wall isadjacent the end wall 22 and it joins Another disc of fibrous material31 such as felted paper or the like overlies the granular fume absorbingmaterial 30. A perforated disc 32 preferably in the form of a metallicscreen is secured in the open end of the cup shaped member by spinningover the open end as indicated at 33. These cartridges thus formed, maybe conveniently interchangeably secured in the supporting members .14 ofthe respirator.

To mount the cartridges in the respirator the larger diameter end of thecartridge is'inserted in the supporting member 14 and the annularseating surface 24 engages the annular resilient gasket 21. A screwthreaded ring 35 is then screwed onto the screw threaded flange of thesupporting member 14. This screw threaded ring 35 is provided with aninwardly extending flange 36 for engaging the annular shoulder 27 of thecartridge for the purpose of releasably securing the cartridge in thesupporting member and sealing the cartridge against the annularresilient gasket 21. In this respect, the annular shoulder 27 of thecartridge lies adjacent the outer edge of the screw threaded flange 15so that it may be engaged by the inwardly extending flange 36 of thescrew threaded ring 35. To replace the cartridge when it becomes spent,all that is necessary is to remove the screw threaded ring 35. Thestructure of the respirator and the structure of the fume absorbingcartridges thus far described, are very much like those disclosed in theaforementioned copending application.

In accordance with this invention there is provided an auxiliary mistabsorbing filter assembly which may be removably secured in place overthe outer end of the fume absorbing cartridge. The mist absorbing filterassembly includes a substantially circular mist absorbing filter 40which may be formed from felted paper or the like. This mist absorbingfilter overlies the outer perforated end wall 32 of the fume absorbingcartridge. The auxiliary assembly also includes a ring member 41preferably formed of aluminum or the like which is provided at one endwith an inwardly extending flange 42 and at the other end with anoutwardly extending flange 43. The ring member 41 is telescopicallyreceived over the cylindrical portion 26 of the fume absorbingcartridge. In so doing, the inwardly extending flange 42 marginallyoverlies the mist absorbing filter 40 for marginally holding the sameagainst the outer end of the fume absorbing cartridge. The outwardlyextending flange 43 of the ring member 41 lies adjacent the shoulder 27on the fume absorbing cartridge. The ring member 41 operates removablyto hold the mist absorbing filter 40 against the outer end of the fumeabsorbing cartridge and the mist absorbing filter may be readilyreplaced merely by removing the ring member 41.

When the fume absorbing cartridge and the auxiliary mist absorbingfilter assembly are received in the supporting member and the screwthreaded ring 35 is screwed onto the screw threaded flange 15 of thesupporting member, the inwardly extending flange 36 of the screwthreaded ring 35 engages the outwardly extending flange 43 of the ringmember 41 for removably securing the mist absorbing filter assembly tothe fume absorbing cartridge and for removably securing the fumeabsorbing cartridge in the supporting member in sealing relation withthe supporting gasket with the sealing gasket 21. To remove theauxiliary mist absorbing filter assembly or the fume absorbing cartridgeall that is necessary is to unscrew the ring 35 from the screw threadedflange 15 of the supporting member. Thus the mist absorbing filter,which prevents the fume absorbing cartridge from becoming clogged, maybe quickly and readily replaced and also the fume absorbing cartridgemay also be quickly and readily replaced when desired. The auxiliarymist absorbing lter operates to extend the useful time of the fumeabsorbing cartridge up to as high as 15 or times when the respirator isused in an atmosphere having mist therein, than if the auxiliary mistabsorbing assembly were not utilized.

While for purposes of illustration one form of this invention has beendisclosed other forms thereof may become apparent to those skilled inthe art upon reference to this disclosure and, therefore, this inventionis to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. A combined fume and mist respirator comprising a face piece includingan exhale valve and a supporting member including an inhale valve, saidsupporting memher being substantially circular and peripherally providedwith a screw threaded flange, an annular resilient gasket in thesupporting member, a substantially cylindrical fume absorbing cartridgehaving a substantially cylindrical side wall and perforated end wallsand fume absorbing material therein, said fume absorbing cartridge beingremovably received in the supporting member with one of its end wallsengaging the gasket, a substantially circular mist absorbing filteroverlying the other end wall of the fume absorbing cartridge, a ringmember for marginally and removably holding the mist absorbing filter onthe fume absorbing cartridge, and a screw threaded ring screw threadedlysecured to the screw threaded flange and having an inwardly extendingflange engaging the ring member for removably securing the mistabsorbing filter to the fume absorbing cartridge and for removablysecuring the fume absorbing cartridge in the supporting member insealing relation with the resilient gasket.

2. A combined fume and mist respirator comprising a face piece includingan exhale valve and a supporting member including an inhale valve, saidsupporting memher being substantially circular and peripherally providedwith a screw threaded flange, an annular resilient gasket in thesupporting member, a substantially cylindrical fume absorbing cartridgehaving substantially circular perforated end walls, a substantiallycylindrical side wall provided with an annular shoulder intermediate itsends and fume absorbing material therein, a substantially circular mistabsorbing filter removably overlying the outer perforated end wall ofthe fume absorbing cartridge, a ring member removably overlying aportion of the side wall of the fume absorbing cartridge and having aninwardly extending flange marginally engaging the mist absorbing filterto hold the same in place on the outer end wall of the fume absorbingcartridge and an outwardly extending flange adjacent the shoulder of thefume absorbing cartridge, the exposed portion of the fume absorbingcartridge being removably received in the supporting member with itsinner end wall engaging the gasket, and a screw threaded ring screwthreadedly secured to the screw threaded flange and having an inwardlyextending flange engaging the outwardly extending flange of the ringmember for removably securing the mist absorbing filter to the fumeabsorbing cartridge and for removably securing the fume absorbingcartridge in the supporting member in sealing relation with theresilient gasket.

3. A combination fume and mist absorbing assembly for use in arespirator having a substantially circular supporting memberperipherally provided with a screw threaded flange and a screw threadedring cooperating with the screw threaded flange and provided with aninternal flange comprising, a substantially cylindrical fume absorbingcartridge having substantially circular perforated end walls, asubstantially cylindrical side wall provided with an annular shoulderintermediate its ends and fume absorbing material therein, asubstantially circular mist absorbing filter removably overlying theouter perforated end wall of the fume absorbing cartridge, and a ringmember removably overlying a portion of the side wall of the fumeabsorbing cartridge and having an inwardly extending flange marginallyengaging the mist absorbing filter to hold the same in place on theouter end wall of the fume absorbing cartridge and an outwardlyextending flange adjacent the shoulder on the fume absorbing cartridge,the exposed portion of the fume absorbing cartridge being removablyreceived in the supporting member, and themist absorbing filter beingremovably secured to the fume absorbing cartridge and the fume absorbingcartridge being removably secured in the supporting member by theinwardly extending flange of the screw threaded ring engaging theoutwardly extending flange of the ring member when the screw threadedring is screwed onto the screw threaded flange of the supporting member.

4; A combination fume, and mist absorbing assembly comprising asubstantially cylindrical fume absorbing cartridge having substantiallycircular perforated end walls, a substantially cylindrical side wallprovided with 0 ing fiangeadjacent the shoulder on the fume absorbing anannular shoulder intermediate its ends and fume absorbing materialtherein, a substantially circular mist I absorbing 'filterremovablyoverlying the outer perforated end wall of the fume absorbing cartridge,and a ring member removably overlying a portion of the side wall of thefume absorbing cartridge and having an inwardly extending flangemarginally engaging the mist absorbing filter to hold the same in placeon the-outer end wall of the fume absorbing cartridge and an outwardlyextendcartridge.

5. A mist absorbing assembly for use with a fume absorbing assemblyincluding a substantially cylindrical fume absorbing cartridge havingsubstantially circular perforated end walls, a substantially cylindricalside wall provided with an annular shoulder intermediate its ends andfume absorbing material therein, comprising, a substantiallycircularmist absorbing filter removably overlying the outer perforated end wallof the fume absorbing cartridge, and a ring member removably overlying aportion of the side wall of the fume absorbing cartridge and. having aninwardly extending flange marginally engaging the mist absorbing filterto hold the same in place on the outer end wall of the fume absorbingcartridge and an outwardly extending flange adjacent the shoulder on thefume absorbing cartridge.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS.l,821,996 Willson Sept. 8, 1931 2,000,064 Cover May 7, 1935 2,505,173Conley Apr. 25, 1950

